Rodgers' men take full advantage as below-strength Welsh side pay for keeping one eye on the Capital One Cup final

BRENDAN RODGERS desperately needed a restorative to lift his men at the end of
a dismal eight days. His former club obligingly provided it.

Michael Laudrup named a line-up with seven changes from the team that thrashed
QPR 4-1 last Saturday, with Sunday’s Capital One Cup final against Bradford
his priority. Significally, leading scorer Michu and club captain Ashley
Williams were left on the bench – and stayed there. With Chico Flores
already out injured, Laudrup was particularly anxious not to lose another
centre-half, ahead of the Wembley showpiece, in Williams.

The Dane’s strategy rebounded on him spectacularly as Liverpool, leading by
virtue of Steven Gerrard’s penalty at half-time, scored three goals in 11
minutes immediately after the break. Luis Suarez tormented the visitors’
rearguard, as well as being among Liverpool’s five individual scorers, who
also included Brazilian Philippe Coutinho on his first start for the club.
The only negative note